Naj Sharif
Researcher
Global Ophthalmic R&D, Santen Inc
USA
Biography
Naj Sharif is a graduate of Southampton University, England (UK), where he received his BSc in Biochemistry and Physiology and his PhD in Neuroscience. He has been in the pharmaceutical industry for 31-years holding leadership positions of increasing scope and responsibility, spanning discovery research, drug development and regulatory affairs. His 22-year R&D tenure at Alcon resulted in his contributions to the discovery/development and US FDA and EMA approvals of Travatan® (Travoprost), Simbrinza®, Patanol® (Olopatadine) and Emedine® (Emedastine), to treat glaucoma/ocular hypertension and ocular allergies. He has also discovered, patented and out-licensed the first FP-prostaglandin-receptor antagonist (AL-8810) that is proving a useful pharmacological tool to dissect the role of FP-receptors in human and animal diseases. He is an Associate Editor of J. Ocular Pharmacology & Therapeutics, and an Editorial Board Member of Molecular Vision, Current Eye Research and European Journal of Pharmacology. He is an Adjunct Professor at several universities and a Thesis Advisor for MS- and PhD graduate students. He has published >190 scientific articles and edited 2 Neuroscience books. He is the Inventor of 22 issued US and EU patents (+ 20 pending patent applications) on ocular cell-lines and small novel molecules to treat human diseases of the CNS and the eye.
Research Interest
Glaucoma treatment: Novel drugs and devices on the horizon